Businesses can apply for a share of up to £30 million to develop vehicle technologies that significantly reduce CO2 emissions and improve air quality.

The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), a government-industry body that aims to make the UK a global centre of excellence for low carbon vehicle development and production, has up to £30 million to invest in technologies that support the long-term development of low and zero emission vehicles in the UK. The funding is part of a 10-year, £1 billion joint government and industry investment to accelerate development of low carbon propulsion technologies and help the UK to take advantage of the huge opportunities in this field.

The APC is seeking projects that develop low and zero emission on-vehicle technologies for on or off-road vehicles and will fund projects working in the following areas:

Alternative propulsion systems

Electric machines and power electronics

Energy storage and energy management

Lightweight vehicle and powertrain structures

Thermal propulsion systems

Projects must have a proven technology concept and demonstrate that there is a clear route to market, be led by a business working in partnership with others and must include an SME and a vehicle manufacturer or tier 1 supplier. Total project costs are expected to range between £5 million and £40 million with grants representing up to 70% funding for projects lasting between 18 and 42 months.

The competition process is delivered by Innovate UK. The competition opens on 30 April 2018 and the deadline for applications is midday on 27 June 2018

An online briefing event will be held on 7 May 2018 – click here to register.